Water-closet and bidet combination

ABSTRACT

The combination of a water-closet and a bidet useful both when there is little space available and for invalids. The combination comprises a main body having a first cavity and a second cavity, each having an upper access adjacent to that of other. The first cavity has a liquid outlet hole connected to an evacuation line through a siphon and a plurality of perimetral liquid inlet holes. The second cavity has a central liquid inlet hole and a liquid outlet hole offset from said central hole and connected to said evacuation line. The main body comprises a liquid reservoir and a mechanism for retaining and releasing liquid from the reservoir. The combination overcomes drawbacks in the layout of sanitary fixtures in small spaces.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention refers to a combined water-closet and bidettoilet useful for places having little space available as well as forinvalid persons.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The use of sanitary fixtures is widespread and a necessitynowadays. Therefore, since long ago many firms have been manufacturingsanitary fixtures such as water-closets, bidets, wash-basins and a widerange of fittings for them.

[0003] It is very common nowadays for living quarters to have more thanone bathroom. A bathroom normally comprises a basic array of fixtures,that is a water-closet, a bidet and a wash-basin. Unfortunately, not allbathrooms are big enough to fit all three types of the forementionedfixtures, either because of construction miscalculation, limited spacesuch as in one-room quarters or because a second or third bathroom mustbe smaller. When such bathrooms do not have enough room for all threestandard fixtures, the general option is to do away with the leastnecessary fixture, which is the bidet. Although this is what happens inmost cases, it is not necessarily the best solution, since a veryimportant factor is neglected, this being personal hygiene. Not beingable to have a bidet in the bathrooms generally entails greater usage ofbathroom paper.

[0004] There have been several attempts to find a solution to themissing bidet. One such attempt was to install a shower inside thewater-closet to be operated by means of a lever to the desired position.Although this fixture reduces the consumption of toilet paper, itsinstallation is somewhat cumbersome and, because the water for it istapped from the same inlet for the water-closet, the fixture could onlybe used with cold water, which is a substantial disadvantage, speciallyin winter times.

[0005] On the other hand, the use of the bidet in bathrooms is unheardof in many countries. This is generally because of the space given upbetween the water-closet and the bidet since, as known in the art, aseparation of between 20 and 40 cm is needed between the bidet and thewater-closet for installing it, which space is generally the reason itis not installed in such countries.

[0006] It should be pondered furthermore that bathrooms are importantnowadays insofar for the aesthetics of the house. One sees more and morehow people turn to better designs of bathrooms which may be hindered bydifferences between both fixtures, that is one has a lid and the otherdoes not, one has taps and the other does not. Although these factorsare not vitally important they need to be considered in order to achievean aesthetically pleasant bathroom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a water-closetand bidet combination so as to be able to have a bidet in places havinglittle room.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide awater-closet and bidet combination for reducing consumption of bathroompaper and improving hygiene.

[0009] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide awater-closet and bidet combination for use in small spaces as well as byinvalids, the combination comprising a main body having a first cavityand a second cavity, both of which are provided with adjacent upperaccesses. The first cavity has a liquid outlet hole connected to anevacuation line through a siphon and a plurality of perimetral liquidinlet holes whereas said second cavity has a central liquid inlet holeand a liquid outlet hole, offset from said central hole, connected tosaid evacuation line. The main body further comprises a liquid reservoirassociated with a mechanism for retaining and releasing the liquidcontained in said reservoir.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] For greater clarity and understanding of the present invention, apreferred embodiment thereof is illustrated by way of example in thedrawings, wherein:

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the combination of the presentinvention;

[0012]FIG. 2 is an upper plant view of the combination of FIG. 1; and

[0013]FIG. 3 is a section view of the combination of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Referring to the drawings, the combination of the presentinvention is indicated with the general reference number 1 and comprisesa main body 2 having a first cavity 3 and a second cavity 4 havingadjacent upper accesses. The first cavity 3 is provided with a liquidoutlet hole 5 connected to an evacuation line 10 via a siphon 9 and aplurality of perimetral liquid inlet holes. The second cavity 4 has acentral liquid-inlet hole 6 and liquid-outlet hole 7 offset from thecentral hole 6 and connected to said evacuation line. The main body 1comprises a liquid reservoir 11 including a mechanism for selectivelyretaining and releasing liquid from said reservoir 11.

[0015] The main body 1 is an integral body on which a single hinged lid12 is arranged on top of said cavities 2 and 3. In this kind ofapplication, the cavity 1 corresponds to a water-closet fixture whereasthe cavity 2 corresponds to a bidet fixture. Furthermore said first andsecond cavities 2 and 3 are separated by a wall 13 such that there is nocommunication between them. The main body houses a soap-holder 14 and abathroom paper roll holder 15 for user use. As may be seen in FIGS. 1and 2, the soap-holder 14 is arranged between the inlet holes of thecavities 2 and 3 whereas the bathroom paper roll holder 15 is arrangedon the bottom part of the main body 1, however it should be understoodthat the soap-holder 14 or the bathroom paper roll holder 15 may beplaced in other parts.

[0016] The mechanism, not illustrated, for retaining and releasing theliquid held inside said reservoir 11 is a conventional mechanism used inall types of water-closet tanks. As in any conventional satchel-typewater-closet, the liquid retaining and releasing mechanism actuator 16is preferably located on the top part of the reservoir 11, although itmay be placed anywhere within user reach.

[0017] Furthermore, the liquid inlet controls, that is the tap means forthe second cavity, are arranged remote from the main body 1 so as to beout of children's reach to stop them from playing with the water.Optionally, the second cavity may comprise a hot-air injector which mayhelp to considerably reduce toilet paper consumption, aside from beingan essentially hygienic means in that there is no direct contact withparts to be cleaned.

[0018] Furthermore, although the combination 1 of the present inventionis designed for small places, it is also advantageous for handicappedand elderly persons, and in the case of small bathrooms, in view of thatthe lid 12 when closed provides a big surface area enabling users toeventually take a shower without risk of slipping or falling.

[0019] Hence, it is clear that the device 1 of the present inventionovercomes reduced floor-space drawbacks in the distribution of sanitaryfixtures in addition to promoting the use of the bidet in cultures whereit is unknown or is not used for lack of space needed for it.

I claim:
 1. The combination of a water-closet and a bidet, saidcombination comprising a main body, said main body including a firstcavity, a second cavity and adjacent upper accesses for said cavities,said first cavity having a liquid outlet hole connected to an evacuationline through a siphon and a plurality of perimetral liquid inlet holes,said second cavity having a central liquid inlet hole and a liquidoutlet hole, said liquid outlet hole offset from said central hole andconnected to said evacuation line, said main body comprising a reservoirfor liquid.
 2. The water-closet and bidet combination of claim 1,wherein said main body comprises a single body and said combinationfurther includes a single lid adapted to close on top of said cavities.3. The water-closet and bidet combination of claim 1, wherein said firstand second cavities are separated by a wall.
 4. The water-closet andbidet combination of claim 1, further including a soap-holder arrangedbetween said cavities.
 5. The water-closet and bidet combination ofclaim 1, further including a mechanism for retaining and releasing saidliquid from said reservoir.
 6. The water-closet and bidet combination ofclaim 1, further including control means outside said main body forcontrolling entry of liquid into the second cavity.
 7. The water-closetand bidet combination of claim 1, further including means for injectinghot air into said second cavity.